Suicide

Suicide is defined as intentional death by one's own hand. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 million people die by suicide worldwide each year. In the United States, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30,000 people commit suicide each year. The suicide rate in the United States is approximately 1.5 times the rate of homicide deaths and twice the rate of HIV/AIDS-related deaths.

Other terms have been used to describe various nonlethal self-harming behaviors. Attempted suicide, for example, is any act in which an individual intends to take his or her own life but survives. Suicidal ideation involves thoughts about killing oneself and can range from passive thoughts about one's own ...